Ladies and Gentlemen it is a year since His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Honourable Ramaphosa announced that the country would be placed under lockdown in an effort to contain the spread of the Corona Virus and to flatten the curve.
The lockdown restrictions have devastated all sectors of our society. Unfortunately, sport has not been spared. We witnessed the closure of all sport activities and competitions negatively impacting on athletes, technical support personnel as well as the broader sporting community and organizations.
Working with the South African Sport Confederations and Olympic Committee and the National Federations Government instituted Relief Interventions to assist sport persons to cushion the impact of the pandemic and save livelihoods. Government is indeed humbled by the words and messages of appreciation expressed by sportspersons in appreciation of these efforts.
We also commend sport persons who rose to the occasion and joined hands with Government in spreading the messages as part of the campaign and fight against the spread COVID-19 pandemic. Government continues to urge the sport persons to carry on using their voices and influence to encourage South Africans to remain vigilant and adhere to the COVID-19 protocol, recognizing that we are not out of the woods yet. The return of sport to normality will go a long way in contributing to the revival of sport tourism ultimately contributing to the much needed economic recovery for the country.
Ladies and gentlemen whilst we continue to battle the pandemic, South African athletes have continued to do battle in international sporting competitions. These soldiers have been flying the South African flag high and continued to entertain and bring joy to South Africans. It is for this reason that we are gathered here to honour and recognize our sport women and men. This is premised on the National Sport and Recreation Plan which enjoins the Department and the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) to acknowledge achievements of individuals within the South African sport and recreation sector through the establishment of recognition system. As a country it is important that we give recognition to the exceptional performances of athletes, coaches, administrators and technical officials. These Ministerial Outstanding Sports Performances Accolades are therefore meant to honor and recognize the deserving teams and individuals who achieve at the highest levels on the international sporting stage.
Programme Director, we often take for granted that South Africans are aware and appreciate the meaning of some of the National Days and months in which we commemorate important events that have shaped our society. The month of March is the Human Rights Month commemorated to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa.
On 21 March 1960, the community of Sharpeville, like their fellow compatriots across the country, embarked on a protest march against pass laws. It is on this fateful day that apartheid police shot and killed 69 of the protesters at Sharpeville. South Africa continues to commemorate Human Rights Day to reinforce our commitment to the Bill of Rights as enshrined in our Constitution.
Ladies and gentlemen I urge all of you and in particular our youth to read the Bill of Rights as it is through the knowledge thereof that the true meaning of the Human Rights, the rights of all people of our country, the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom are affirmed.
Ladies and gentlemen please join me in congratulating all our athletes who have done us proud. The Protea Cricket Women’s Team has just landed from a tour of India where once again they have made history by winning the ODI Series and the T20 Series.
On that note my I request the President of SASCOC to join me on stage to honor our shining stars.
Below is list of rewarded athletes with certificates, medal accompanied by R20 000, 00 cash incentive except for Momentum Ladies Cricket team which were given R500 000,00 cash incentive.
WOMEN’S MOMENTUM CRICKET TEAM
PLAYERS
- Laura Wolvaardt WC
- Lizelle Lee NW
- Mignon du Preez NC
- Marizanne Kapp EC
- Suné Luus NC
- Chloe Tryon KZN
- Shabnim Ismail KZN
- Ayabonga Khaka GP
- Masabata Klaas NW
- Tumi Sekhukhune NW
- Trisha Chetty KZN
- Nonkululeko Mlaba KZN
- Nadine de Klerk WC
- Nondumiso Shangase KZN
MANAGEMENT
- Hilton Moreeng
- Salieg Nackerdien
- Sedibu Mohlaba
- Abram Ramoadi
- Russell Clarke
- Tshegofatso Gaetsewe
- Molebatsi Theletsane
- Lucy Davey
CRICKET SA: The SA Women’s Cricket reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which was held in Australia from 21 February to 8 March 2020. The 21-year old Laura Wolvaardt was selected for the team of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 with her batting performances of 94 runs at strike rate of 149. The team lost narrowly to the host by 5 runs in a rain interrupted match via D/L method.
Due to the Covid19 pandemic, the team went for 11 months without International Cricket and recently hosted Pakistan in South Africa (Durban) in a series of matches that took place from 20 January to 3 February 2021. They won both the T20 and One-Day-International series 3-0 respectively which was an exceptional performance
SURFING SA: Ms. Noluthando Makalima
EVENT DETAILS: International Surfing Association World Para Surfing Championships held at La Jolla Shores in San Diego, USA from March 11-15 2020
DESCRIPTION OF PERFORMANCE
Noluthando won a silver medal at this ISA World Para Olympic Championships in the Prone 2 category to become the first surfer from Khayelitsha to represent South Africa at a World Championship Surfing event and win a silver medal.
MOTORSPORT SOUTH AFRICA : Brad Binder Winning a race in his first season in the top category of world championship motorcycle racing (MotoGP) at Brno in the Czech Republic in August 2020 -
He also won the MotoGP Rookie of the Year award -
We are proud to mention that he was even congratulated by President Ramaphosa on his win.
TENNIS SOUTH AFRICA:
Ms. Kgothatso Montjane became the only South African Player who managed to be able to travel during the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020 to participate in a Grand Slam. The player is based at our High Performance Centre and a member of Tuks Tennis Club, She fell short in the Quarter Final against Momoko Ohmati.
In February 2021, Kgothatso endured a 2 week Quarantine in Australia participate in the Australia Summer Series and produced outstanding results.
VICTORIAN WHEELCHAIR OPEN - In the singles she lost in the Semi Final to Diede De Groot. In Doubles her and her partner Lucy reached the Final and fell short to the Japanese duo OHTANI / KAMIJI
MELBOURNE WHEELCHAIR OPEN – Singles results, Kgothatso reached the Semi Final and lost to Yui Kamiji (JPN) 4-6 3-6
In the doubles, partnering with Lucy Shuker from Great Britain, they reached the final losing to De Groot / Van Koot of Netherlands 2-6 3-6
AUSTRALIAN OPEN WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONSHIPS 14 -17 Feb 2021
In the singles Semi Final Kgothatso fought a 3-setter against a familiar opponent Yui Kamiji (JPN) but fell short 1-6 ,7-5 ,1-6
In the doubles with partner Lucy, they again fell short to the Netherlands duo De Groot / Van Koot 4-6 1-6
Alwande Sikhosana: is an aspiring young player. He braved the uncertain times in November 2020 and recorded outstanding results in Alanya Turkey.
Alwande reached the Singles Semi Final and lost to Kouhei Suzuki (JPN) 4-6 6-0 2-6, Alwande played doubles with fellow South African Mr. Leon Els
Leon Els: Leon Els also travelled during the uncertain times in November 2020 to participate in the tournaments in Turkey, ALANYA OPEN – Turkey 17 – 20 Nov 2020 In the Singles, Leon lost in the 2nd round against Alexander Cataldo (CHI) 2-6 1-6, HAYDAPARSHA PALACE OPEN – Turkey 23 – 26 Nov 2020
Leon reached the Singles 2nd round and lost to Carlos Anker (NED) 2-6 5-7
The Doubles Results for Alwande and Leon:
ALANYA OPEN:
ELS / SIKHOSANA reached the Quarter Final and lost to Berdichevsky and Sasson of Israel 7-5 3-6 7-10
HAYDAPARSHA PALACE OPEN:
Els and Sikhosana reached the Final, fell short of the victory to CATALDO (CHI) / GIL (CRC) 4-6 3-6
CYCLING: Greg Minnaar: After winning the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Lousa, Portugal, Greg Minnaar broke his own previous record to became the male professional downhill mountain biker, with the most world cup career victories. Greg’s record now stands at 22 World Cup wins.
Supporting of the sport in his home community of Pietermaritzburg. Greg has played a key role in supporting the sport of Downhill Mountain Biking and developing the youth.
2020 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup – 3rd Overall
Greg is three times UCI Downhill World Champion (2003, 2012, 2013), and a three times UCI Downhill Cup Champion, (2001, 2005, 2008). Greg has a record of 22 Downhill World Cup Victories and 77 Downhill World Cup Podiums.
In 2020 Greg finished 3rd in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Championships.
Greg Minnaar is an icon in the sport of Mountain Biking, and besides being a proud ambassador of South Africa, he is also the in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Ashley Moolman Pasio:
DESCRIPTION OF PERFORMANCE
SA’s current top performing female cyclist, won the first Zwift E-world Championships during lockdown and had the entire SA cycling community glued to the devices. Gave the country a huge boost across the world and lifted the mood of everyone in lockdown.
A global internet cycle race format that has taken the cycling world by storm. She is the first World Champion!
